Card container



Nov. 25, 1958 H. B. MYERS 2,861,706

CARD CONTAINER Filed Oct. 26, 1955 2 SheetS- -Sheet 1 INVENTOR;

Hanan B. Mvtns BYW%%MM I A TTORNE Y Nov. 25, 1958 Filed Oct. 26, 1955 H. B.MYERS cm) CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IHHH! I 2/ l IJJJIJIIIF i g F I 5 4 F I I I 5 I I i 4 I I I E 5 I s I I mmvron Hnkaw B. MYERS ATTORNEY Unitd States Patent ronghs Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application Gctcber 26, 1955, Serial No. 542,840

Claims. or. 220- 4 This invention relates to containers for cards and more particularly to improvements in end closures for card containers.

For efficient handling of cards used in business machines it is desirable to file the cards in containers suitable for storage which can be easily and quickly adapted for use in businessmachines as card feed hoppers and as card receiving bins. To utilize a card container as a card feed hopper the container is attached to the business machine so as to cause a gravityfiow of cards from the container into the feed mechanism of the business machine. It is neecssary that' the front end of-the container to be open to allow thepassage of cards into the business machine and that the front end he closed when the container is adapted for use as a card receiving bin or is used for card'storage. Card'containe rs normally have handles attached to their front closures. With the front closure removed it is difficult to drop a container easily into place in a business machine and to extract it unlessa handle is'provided which extends over and above the body of the container and is near the open front end. such handles, however, must not interfere with the nesting of the card containers 'nor with their storage in suitable receptacles and consequently must be retractable when the front closures are attached.

It is an object of this invention to provide a card container with a'detachable end closure which is quickly and easily secured 'to and released from the container by a simple inclination of a latch which serves in its upright position as a handle for the container when the end closure is detached. e

Other objects and features 'of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode which has been contemplated of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. l'is 'a perspective'view of a portion of a card-container'body and a front closure adapted for attachment to the front end of the container body.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view'of a porti sembled card container.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation view of the assembled card container with the front plate partially cut away to'show details of the latching means.

Fig. 4 is a section view along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing details of the latching means.

Referring to Fig. 1 a portion of a card container body on of the asis shown with a bottom 12 and two upstanding side walls 14 and 16 extending longitudinally along opposite sides of the bottom 12. The frontclosure 18, also shown in Fig. 1, has a front plate 20 which has dimensions approximately equal to the external width and height of the container body 10 and is adapted, when attached thereto, to extend across and close the front end of the card container body 10. A handle 21 of conventional size and shape is attached to the front side of the front plate 20.

Attached to the front plate 20 along lines parallel to and equally spaced inwardly from the side edgesof the front plate are the vertical side plates 22 and 24, each projecting rearwardly from their respective sides of the front plate. The side plates 22 and 24 are spaced apart by a distance slightly less than the distance between the upstanding side walls 14 and 16, between and against which they are adapted to fit snugly, and they have a vertical height at their rearmost edges slightly less than the interior vertical height of the container body 10. Portions of the top ends of the vertical side plates 22 and 24 are inclined so as to slope upwardly to the rear from points just adjacent to the front plate 20 so that the angle of inclination is about 45 degrees with respect to the front plate 20. Flanges29 and 30 extend along the inclined position of the top ends and project toward each other for a short distance at right angles from the respective side plates 22 and 24, and consequently they are also inclined at a 45 degree angle with respect to the front plate 20. The inclined flanges 29 and ,30 are adapted to receive a securing latch, as will be described below.

Extending between the rearmost edges of the two side plates 22 and 24 and spaced by them from the front plate 20 is a back plate 26, which is parallel to the front plate 20. In the illustrated embodiment the back plate and the side plates 22 and 24 are integrally formed from a single metal plate. Back plate 26 is a smooth flat plate adapted to support the front end of a stack of stored cards when the front closure 18 is attached to the cardcontainer body It). The back plate 26 has maximum dimensions which are slightly less than the interior dimensions of the container body 10. The central portion 37 of the top edge of the back plate 26 is cut away to a sufficient width and depth to permit easy grasping of a securing latch 54, the operation of which will be described below. Two holes 38 in the back plate permit access to fastening nuts, not shown, which secure the handle 21 to the front plate Two cylindrical pins 32 .and 33 project from locations close to the top and to the bottom edges respectively of the side plate 22 in an outward lateral direction with respect to the front closure 18. Two identical cylindrical pins 34 and 35, the bases of which can be seen anchored in the side plate 24 in Fig. 4, project perpendicularly in an outward lateral direction from corresponding locations onside plate 24. The four cylindrical pins 3235 protrude from the side plates 22 and 24 for a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the side walls 14 and 16.

The bottom 12 of the. container body 10 is formed into three longitudinal slightly elevated tracks 40, shown in Fig. 1, which are adapted to support the. cards of a stored pack and on which a rear presser plate, not shown, may be slidingly mounted. Spaced apart in the upper half of each of the side walls 14 and 16 and extending longitudinally are two parallel grooves 42 which serve to stiffen the sidewalls. Covering the lower third portion of each of the sidewalls 14 and 16 and also extending longitudinally thereof are channel members 44, which add to the external width at the base of. the card container body 10, and also provide necessary rigidity to the container body.

In the forward edge of the sidewall 14 are two slots 48 and 49, one near the top and one near the bottom and spaced apart by a distance equal to that between the two corresponding cylindrical pins 52 and 33. The slots extend rearwardly and downwardly from the front edge to define an angle of incidence of 45 degrees with the front edge of the sidewall. The opposite sidewall 1'6 has identical slots 50 and 51 shown in Fig. 4 in similar locations with spacing equal to that between the correspond ing two cylindrical pins 34 and 35. The slots have a width sufiicient to accommodate the cylindrical pins 32- 35 of the front closure 18. The depth of the slots 4851 and their location on the sidewalls 14 and 16 relative to the location of the cylindrical pins 32- 35 on the front closure 18 is such that when the cylindrical pins are inserted in their corresponding slots, the front closure 18 is held snugly against and in registration with sides of the respective sidewalls 14 and 16 at a distance from the tops of the sidewalls of approximately onethird of their height and at a slightly greater distance from the front ends of the sidewalls. Where they are attached to the pivots 64 and 66, the side portions 62 of the latch project rearwardly to form widened portions 68 of the latch ides. The widened portions 68 of the latch have dimensions sufficient to enable the pivot points to be in line with the rearward edge 70 of the latch 54. The side portions 62 of the latch 54 extend downwardly beyond the widened portions at the pivot points 64 and 66 to a location, when the latch is upright, about midway between the top and bottom of the sidewalls 14 and 16. Detents 74 formed in each of the sidewalls 14 and 16 are located below and slightly forwad of each of the pivots 64 and 66 respectively. The detents 74 protrude to exert pressure on the lower ends of the side portions 62 when the latch 54 is placed in an upright position, thereby helping to restrain the latch from falling to a position where it might interfere with the flow of cards into a business machine, and also making the latch readily available as ahandle for lifting and carrying the card container. The front and rear edges 69 and 70 of the latch 54 may be curled to strengthen it and to make it more comfortable to grasp. Because the side portions 62 and pivots 64 and 66 of the latch 54 are outside the sidewalls 14 and 16, the longitudinal channel members 44 maintain the width of the base of the container body, as has been previously explained, so that the containers can be easily nested or placed in suitable receptacles.

The top front corners 78 of the sidewalls 14 and 16 are cut away at an angle of 45 degrees so that they are parallel to and substantially match the position of the inclined flanges 29 and 30 when the front closure 18 is fitted to the container body 10. The location of the pivots 64 and 66 and the dimensions of the side portions 62 of the latch 54 are such that when the latch is inclined forwardly 45 degrees and the front closure 18 is in place at the front end of the container body 10, portions of the latch rest upon the inclined flanges 29 and 30. In this position the plane defined by the rear edge 70 of the central portion of the latch 54 and the pivot points of pivots 64 and 66 is inclined at an angle of 45 degrees and the plane defined by the front edge 69 and the rear edge 70 of the latch is at right angles thereto. Consequently, when the latch 54 is inclined at a 45 degree angle from the vertical, the plane defined by the front edge 69 of the central portion 60 of the latch and the pivots 64 and 66 is inclined at an angle from the vertical or more than forty five degrees. This feature permits the central portion 60 of the latch 54 to pass clear of the flanges 29 and 31 as it is raised andvlowered while permitting full engagement of the surfaces of the flanges 2? .and 30 with the central portion 66 of the latch 54.

With the front closure 18 in place at the front end of .the' container body 10 and the latch 54 inclined to' rest eon the flanges 29 and 34}, the card container may be 4 grasped by the front handle 21 and pulled out of its receptacle or off its nest of stacked containers. The card container then can be readily lifted and carried, utilizing an additional handle, not shown, which extends over the rear of the container. By insertion of ones fingers under the central portion 68 of the latch, which is accessible through the cut away portion 37 of the back plate 26, the latch 54 can be lifted to an upright position and the front closure 18 can be easily lifted from the front end of the container body- 10. The latch 54 can thereafter be utilized as a handle for the opened card container body 10 in place of the handle 21 on the removed front clo ure 18. The pressure of the detents 74 and 76 on the side portions 62 of the latch releasably retain the latch in its upright position. In this way the card container can be adapted for insertion in a business machine so that stored cards may be fed by gravity flow through the open front end of the container into the business machine. After the cards have been fed out the card container can be easily lifted from the business machine by means of latch 54 and the additional rear handle mentioned above. The front closure 18 can be attached by placing it across the open front end of the container body so that the cylindrical pins 32--35 are just above their corresponding slots 48-51 and then pressing the frontclosure rearwardly and downwardly so that the cylindrical pins are fitted into their corresponding slots. The front closure 18 then can be secured in this position by a simple forward inclination of the latch 54 from its upright position so that it rests upon the flanges 29 and 30. In this position the latch 54 prevents any vertical movement of the front closure and consequently prevents it from being lifted out of the slots 48-51 when an upward force is exerted on handle 21. Fore and aft movement of the front closure 18 is prevented by the slots 48-51 which retain the pins 3235 and prevent fore and aft movement thereof without a corresponding vertical movement. Lateral motion of the front plate 18 is prevented by the snug fit of the side plates 22 and 24 against the side walls 14 and 16. With the front closure 18 securely attached as described, the card container may be replaced in its receptacle or may be nested with similar card containers.

The described embodiment can be altered by changing the angles of inclination of the latch and of the flanges on the front closure, provided the angles are complementary. It is also possible to dispense with the upper pins so that the front closure can be secured to the container body by single pins on each side fitted into corresponding slots in the sidewalls, and by the engagement of the forwardly inclined latch with theoppositely inclined flanges. However, the embodiment shown and described is preferred because of the greater security of attachment and because the front closure does not need to be manually supported while the latch is manipulated.

While there have been shown and disclosed and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A card container comprising a container body having a bottom and two sidewalls, a detachable end closure having a front plate with dimensions suitable to close an end of said container body and'two vertically extending and rearwardly projecting side plates attached near each side of said front plate with dimensions suitable to fit within said container body, projecting means projecting rearwardly and upwardly from the back of said end closure, said end closure having at least one pin extending' laterally from eachof its sides, slots extending downwardly and away from the end edges of said sidewalls and adapted to receive said pins when said end closure is fitted to the end of said body, a latch pivoted to a sidewall and extending across said container body having an upright and an inclined position and adapted in its upright position to be utilized as a handle for said container body and in its inclined position to engage said projecting means to lock said end closure to said container body.

2. A card container comprising a container body having a bottom and two sidewalls, a detachable front closure having a front plate with dimensions suitable to close an end of said container body and two vertically extending and rearwardly projecting side plates attached near each side of said front plate with dimensions suitable to fit within said container body, said end closure having two laterally projecting pins extending from each of said side plates, two slots extending downwardly and away from the end edges of each of said sidewalls and adapted to receive said pins when said end closure is fitted to the end of said body, a latch on said container body having an upright and a forwardly inclined position and in its upright position extending from the outside of one sidewall and over said container body to the outside of the other sidewall to be utilized as a handle for said container body, and the tops of said side plates projecting rearwardly and upwardly from the back of said front closure, said latch being adapted in its forwardly inclined position to engage the projecting tops of said side plates to prevent vertical movement of said front closure, thereby retaining said laterally extending pins in said slots and securing said front closure to said container body.

3. A card container comprising a container body having a bottom and two sidewalls, a detachable front closure having a front plate with dimensions suitable to close an end of said container body and a back plate supported parallel to the back of said front plate by two vertically extending side plates at each side of said back plate, said back and side plates having dimensions suitable to fit within said container body, said end closure having two pins extending laterally from each of its side plates, two slots extending downwardly and away from the end edges of each of said sidewalls and adapted to receive said pins when said end closure is fitted to the end of said body, a latch on said container body having an upright and a forwardly inclined position and in its upright position extending from the outside of one sidewall over and above said container body to the outside of the other sidewall to be utilized as a handle for said container body, the top ends of said side plates projecting rearwardly and upwardly from their points of attachment to the back of said front plate, said latch being adapted in its forwardly inclined position to engage said top ends of said side plates to prevent vertical movement of said front closure with respect to said container body, thereby retaining said laterally extending pins in said slots and securing said front closure to said container body.

4. A card container comprising a container body having a bottom and two sidewalls; a detachable front closure having a front plate with dimensions suitable to close an end of said container body, two rearwardly projecting vertical side plates attached to the back of said front plate at equally spaced distances from the sides thereof, said side plates being so spaced and having dimensions such that they fit within and against said sidewalls when said front closure is attached to said container body, said front closure having two laterally extending pins mounted on each of its side plates; two slots extending downwardly and away from the end edges of each of said sidewalls and adapted to receive said pins when said end closure is .6 fitted to the end of said body; a strap-shaped latch on said container having an upright and a forwardly inclined position and, in its upright position, having a horizontal central portion extending across said container body above the top edges of said sidewalls and two side portions extending up from pivots on the outside of each sidewall to respective ends of said horizontal central portion, said latch being adapted in an upright position to be utilized as a handle for said container body; and the top ends of said side plates projecting rearwardly and inclined upwardly from their points of attachment to the back of said front plate; said latch being adapted in its forwardly inclined position to engage said-upwardly inclined top ends of said side plates to prevent vertical movement of said front closure with respect to said container body, the angles of inclination of said latch and of said top ends being complementary, thereby permitting a secure and full engagement of said inclined latch with the upwardly inclined top ends of said plates.

5. A card container comprising a container body having a bottom and two sidewalls; a detachable front closure having a front plate with dimensions suitable to close an end of said container body and having a handle attached to the front side thereof, two rearwardly projecting vertical side plates attached to the back of said front plate at equally spaced distances from the sides thereof, said side plates being so spaced and having dimensions such that they fit within and against said sidewalls when said front closure is attached to said container body, said front closure having two laterally extending pins mounted on each of its side plates; two slots extending downwardly and away from the end edges of each of said sidewalls and adapted to receive said pins when said end closure is fitted to the end of said body; a strap-shaped latch on said container body having an upright and a forwardly inclined position and, in its upright position, having a horizontal central portion extending across said container body over the top edges of said sidewalls and two side portions extending up from pivots on the outside of each sidewall to respective ends of said horizontal central portion, means for releasably securing said latch in an upright position to be utilized as a handle for said container body; and the top ends of said side plates projecting rearwardly and inclined upwardly from their points of attachment to the back of said front plate, said central portion of said latch being adapted in the forwardly inclined position to engage said upwardly inclined top ends of said side plates to prevent vertical movement of said front closure with respect to said container body; the angle of inclination of the latch in its inclined position defined by a line extending from the uppermost edge of said latch to said pivots being complementary to the angle of inclination of the inclined portions of the top ends, and the strap-shaped central portions of said latch in its inclined position extending in a plane parallel to the plane defined by said inclined portions of the top ends, thereby permitting a secure engagement of said latch with the top ends of said side plates whereby said front closure is securely fitted to said card container body and said handle on the front closure may be utilized for handling said card container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 151,023 Hawker May 19, 1874 187,530 Hasselbach 1- Feb. 20, 1877 376,405 Clayton Jan. 10, 1888 1,100,423 Dyar June 16, 1914 

